There are some key differences between being a great leader and a great manager. Whether you are serving as a team lead or tour manager, being able to successfully lead a team of EXPs is important. As a tour manager with 8+ years of experience, I had to break this into two parts and share a few of the best practices to implement that will assist you in becoming a great leader and manager!
Establish Open Lines of Communication
“It’s not what you say but how you say it.” Being able to convey any expectations prior with EXPs you will be managing is key. How you communicate initially will also set the tone for how EXPs will perceive you and what they can expect from you when executing an event. This can be done via a phone call, email, or text. If you choose to go the email or text route, then requiring everyone to respond in a timely manner is also important.
Have a Team Meeting Prior to the Activation
This will allow you to communicate, introduce yourself, and address any concerns prior. During this time, it is also important to define roles and responsibilities, set expectations for everyone, establish break times, set any lead capture/event goals, and communicate any event changes or clients visiting the event site.
Make Your Rounds During the Event
This encompasses everything from footprint assets not working to technology devices failing to EXPs not being at their assigned stations to babysitting account managers and clients. Yes, I said it: babysitting. There may be instances where one or all of these things are occurring at once. As a manager, it will be up to you to properly address these issues and find viable solutions while onsite.
How do you deal with different personalities as a manager? You’ll have to tune in next week for part two of this series to find out!
